2013-14 Reflections

The 2013-14 school year is now officially in the books.  It was another challenging year both personally and professionally, but I sit here in awe of God's work despite my best or worst efforts.

• We had nine new staff changes during the course of the year.  God brought some talented people to our school community that made a huge difference to our ministry.
• SmartBoards were installed in all K-8 classrooms and integrated in instruction / IPADS K-2 / Gaggle 5-8 / Tablets in 7-8
• An IT service was hired to  provide much-needed technology network support ministry-wide. 
• “Defining the Win” in our school… - Know / Grow / Show  - Visual…  - (Be Loved – Belong – Be Brave) which will help define our culture
• Curriculum changes… AR / Spelling / Science 3-6 / CK LA K-1 - some of these areas were challenging for us and the staff wrestled over consistent strategies and the students won!
• Getting a handle on Fundraising at SJLS - from major to minor events.… Blessed by the first “ Bountiful Affair” event and two amazing event coordinators.
• Calling Pastor Eric Van Scharrel to help engage the ministry with school families
• Resignation of the Director of the Children's Center has created greater clarity for skills and leadership it takes to lead this important part of our ministry.
• Robotics, Theater and Art Clubs were started for kids who were wired to shine in these areas.
•  Worked hard with SJ leadership to define and land on mission/vision to carry up into the future.
• Updated all mnistry job descriptions and implemented an evaluation process that will be done by the end of the month..
• Put new lunch program in place that provides a quality product and actually makes us mone

Well - that's some of the ways I have spent my time this past year.  If you throw in the loss of Rhonda's mom... which is still weighing on her and working with a dysfunctional leadership model, I am still standing. This summer will be spent thinking about assessment models for next year and helping craft a model for discipleship.  God is simply faithful to His promise and I lean on that when stuff seems too big to overcome.  At the end of the day, I picture the 430 kids what came each day to this place and were cared for, challenged to think and engage in learning.
That's what its all about!

• ---

What's Next?

 

The past 30 days have been somewhat surreal to Rhonda and I.  Not quite what we thought this stage of life would be.  Through these days of hardship, we see God working in ways that  have yet to be revealed. Two weeks ago I was driving half-way across the USA and flying around the country to care for my folks. Just last week we were scrambling on finding a ALZ home for Rhonda's mom, only to find ourselves preparing for a memorial service in a couple weeks. We make our best plans, but God intervenes and straightens out even  the messy stuff.
When you don't get what you expect the natural order should produce, you question what went wrong, when the first thing is expecting a natural outcome of events should make sense.  Really?  Are we that nieve?   Where and how do we learn to trust when things do not go as planned? It is said we learn the most when we struggle - not when things go easy.  We end up relying on our own intellect and abilities to figure stuff out.  So some lessons learned from someone who usually gets it pretty close to right.  My diet of humble pie is not what I think I need.  I need to push back from the table, get out of the way and watch God do His thing.

Test Prep - TRUST

 

Our post-Christmas world has been a challenging one.  It seems that our personal focus has been distracted by circumstances that have been thrust upon us, making us take a stand or step up to advise or engage in problem-solving that has few easy answers.  So goes life with aging parents.  Perhaps it is our first encounter that hits so close.  Dealing with frail moms and dads test the mettle of one's love, concern, stress and focus.  Both our parents have undergone extreme struggle since January 1 while in our presence. In both situations, we were forced to make decisions that were not embraced.  In other words... we weren't ready for dealing with messy stuff with our parents.  For the first time, we were put in the role of being a "decision-maker" for parents who played that role for us for several decades.  Then, when we are pushed to pick up some slack, we are overwhelmed with the details and consequences of plain old age.  No easy answers here... but a simple child-like faith that we made decisions that will be in the best interest of each of them. We can't see into the future but must trust that God will handle the big stuff if we make a good attempt to handle the small stuff.  But why does this feel like such big stuff?    The old hymn  " I am trusting Thee Lord Jesus"  serves as a reminder:
"I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall.
I am trusting Thee forever
And for all."

I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev'ry day and hour supplying
All my need.

5. I am trusting Thee for power;
Thine can never fail.
Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me
Must prevail.

Merry Christmas 2013

                 
Merry Christmas 2013 !  It will be a different Christmas  this year than in the past.  We will have my folks driving in from KS,  Rhonda's dad is flying in from MD, and Nate, Jacqui and Adam will be arriving on the 26th.  The difference will  be that we will be hosting Christmas for the first time in 6 years.  Our Christmases have been busting our way to FL to spend time with Nate - since it is hard for him to get away from his Pastoral duties. 
This year my family making a huge effort to get where we are!  Yes, they want to see our new life in Bakersfield and get somewhere warm and sunny, but what a blessing it is to be on the receiving end from people who love you. I have to admit is is not easy for me to receive.  My selfish nature tends to steer the outcome to my own desired results.  To receive means to accept whatever you get - with appreciation. My nature usually puts some level of expectation on me or on the event. One application might be for me to imagine what expectation anyone had that first Christmas?
Were Mary and Joseph expecting to find no room in the inn?
Were Mary and Joseph prepared for their baby to be born in a stable and laid in a manger?
Did the shepherds expect to see angels in the sky that night?
Did they expect to see the Savior of the world laying in the humble dwellings of a table?
It was not as they expected because they had no big preconceived expectations - they went on with the routine because that's what you do as people of faith. You just trust that God will provide what you need, when you need it.  When a surprise is needed, then a surprise will take place.  When you look back, you recognize God's provision was greater than your feeble expectations.  So it is when God is intimately involved with us.  That's the beauty of the incarnation - God in flesh - joining us where we are.  May He bless your Christmas beyond measure! - meaning beyond your feeble expectations!

Advent Conspiracy 2013

                                               
Last year I learned about the Advent Conspiracy www.adventconspiracy.org.  movement that was taking shape in the Christian church.  This past weekend, SJLC was blessed by Lincoln Brewster and his "Joy to the World Tour." It was just what I needed to refocus my attention on Christmas.  One thing that is missing at SJ is midweek Advent services.  I miss the weekly checkpoint to sing some carols and hear a message from the Old Testament prophets or making  the annual journey to Bethlehem with the characters in Matthew and Luke. 
I love the four tenants of Advent Conspiracy:
"Worship Fully"  /"Spend Less" / "Give More" / "Love All"
I am reminded of how frugal I have been as I consider all the Christmases of the past. We had to make a little go a long way as our kids were growing up.  I am probably best known for my "buying needs" and not "wants" by my kids and wife.  Practicality was the key. Only in the past few years as the kids and parents live far away do I consider more excessive spending on gifts.  It feels better because I'm "making up" for the time and energy spent away from them for most of the year. My commitment is to begin each day clicking a spot on the online AC Advent calendar and reflecting on these simple statements.  I long for Emmanuel!  So Come Lord Jesus! Quickly!  More to come :)

Moses and Me

I was reading today about the call of Moses in Exodus 3 into a very tenuous leadership position.  My thinking rests on the premise that leadership in any shape or form is hard work.  Whether it is in corporate America, coaching, teaching, pastoring or any profession it seems to be getting more challenging by the day.  This is not about the "why" it is, it is more about in "what" the reality of the call rests.
God called Moses to help people in a very difficult situation.  It was not glamorous or positioned him for success in playing to his strengths.  The challenges were totally unknown when God appeared in that burning bush.  Through it all,  echoes a simple truth that "God will be with you!"  The dialogue goes something like this:

Moses says                                                    God says
Who am I to do this?                              I will be with you!
What do I say when asked?                    I AM WHO I AM sent you!
What if they don't believe me?               I will do miraculous signs!
                                                               Snake to staff / changed hand / blood on ground
I am not eloquent - send someone else!  Aaron will speak for you!

 Pharoh's initial response to Moses' request to let God's people go is to remove straw from the bricks and make the Israelites work harder! Now even the Israelites are ticked at Moses - "why have you brought this trouble on us?"  
It takes a 40 year journey of God daily showing up and providing and proving His love for His people time and time again.
WDTM for us?  We can throw all kinds of excuses and justify our frustrations when we are faced with overwhelming circumstances.  When do we decide to stay and fight or decide to flee? God simply proves to us time and time again that He is faithful.  It is as if He says... "will you humble yourself. remove your pride and recognize the calling I have on your heart?"  Can we clear away all the debris of the way our plans "should" unfold and simply use what God has given us to get His work done?  We are an icon of what is happening to the church in the west.  We tend to place our material and capitalistic values and reason above the calling.  What questions  would Paul ask me if he walked into my office today? What would he need to remind me of?  So what would we give up for the sake of knowing Christ?  Once again, God showed up in His word to remind me that "He will be with me!" - that's enough.